Becoming a Vibrant Bosque Tree
"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." - Jeremiah 17:7-8
Before coming to Ohio 2 years ago I lived in central New Mexico, which has a terrain similar to the desert regions described in the Bible. In these areas trees are very scarce. In fact, you could probably count the number of them on your two hands. Something changes, however, when you get close to a river or another body of water. All of a sudden the landscape is flooded with large vibrant trees. In New Mexico we call it the bosque (a.k.a. the forest). Just like in the passage from Jeremiah these trees are a demonstration of what God would like our lives to be like. Jesus has promised us living water (John 4:13-14), which will satisfy all of our needs and desires.
For some reason I sometimes have a hard time believing that these promises God has made to me will be enough. I might not consciously think this, but I catch myself acting like it. I lose faith, and let worry and fear take over. All this does, however, is sap my energy and cause me to become a scrawny, loner tree out in the desert, thirsty for more water. How can I reverse this and become a vibrant bosque tree, full of life and hope? The passage from Jeremiah tells us to simply abide in God; to stay in His presence, as close to the living water as we can.
Let’s wake up each morning realizing that no matter what challenges we may face we always have an unlimited source of love and hope feeding into our lives. What a great God we have!
- by Meredith Merkley